Rannoch Mountaineering Club 

www.climbrannoch.co.uk

The Missing Link (RM, Feb 23rd, 2004)

After being waved off by the b-team I set off up the Allt Coire Giubhsachan towards A. Beag. Easy path but eventually lost it among numerous craggy ridges protruding into the glen from all sides and all angles.

Eventually the coire opened out into a massive bowl surrounded by precipitous cliffs festooned by frozen waterslides and icicles. According to the map access from any part of the coire was possible - but not so. The easiest way up now seemed the south face of Stob Coire Bhealaich a choice of steep frozen turf mingled with rocks or a less steep snow gully. Went for the rocks - wrong choice.

Frozen turf, patches of boiler plate ice scattered about, slippery rocks all under a light dusting of fresh snow. Nightmare. Decided it was time for the crampons (sorry Shaz) and that the best option would be straight up the snow gully. Started well but rapidly got steeper. Equipped with only one long axe the day was now turning into an Alpine epic. Ever steeping ice lead to lateral bale out onto frozen turf. Felt a bit more secure, bit more steep snow then the ridge. Needed a hip flask but had to make do with cheese.

Summit of A. Beag was an anticlimax after all this - big flat area of snow, covered in crampon marks, old tea and pee. No cairn. Cramponed down to A. Mor over frozen stones and moss, tricky but worth it to get to massive cairn on summit of A. Mor.

Sitting down to eat more cheese realised that A. Beag was considerably bigger than A. Mor - how can that be? Studied the map to make sure I was on the right hill, studied contours and convinced myself that A. Mor was definitely bigger, just a trick of the light. Convinced another walker that this was the case and that he was already on the biggest hill as that was what 'Mor' meant - walker went away satisfied he had climbed biggest hill in the area - just wait till he gets to the bar and is boasting of his achievement!

 Good shout from Colin meant I found the easier descent off A. Mor rather than the death-defying drop-off from the col employed by most other parties. Easy run down a snow gully for me. Crampons off at path, down the glen, up over short cut (thanks Colin) and back to the car for a 2 hour 21 minute wait for the b-team to catch up (thanks for book Shaz). The B-team do have some uses - they know all the best paths and shortcuts. All in all a good day and JD even bought a drink (for himself).